Desert delight
Whether it’s a stopover or a family holiday with a difference,
Dubai is an enchanting oasis, writes Kayti Denham.
Why fly straight to Europe when you can stop over in one of the most mystical, intriguing lands on the planet? Dubai is conveniently located halfway between Australia and Europe, has a dazzling array of hotels and amenities and amazing shopping. Dubai is also a feast for the eyes, providing wide-eyed kids (and their parents) with a glimpse of the marvels of modern engineering and the ability of man to tame nature, for better or worse.
Dubai is a shopper’s paradise, with amazing yearly sales in July, wonderful gold and antiquities and the high-end fashion but there is so much more to this cultured oasis. I visited Dubai with my two teenage girls Severen and Bella, who discovered some of the less obvious and truly special experiences of one of the
world’s most exciting destinations.
Sandune safari
The mystical Dubai desert is a neverending sandscape of golden dunes that changes with the light, providing a magnificent backdrop to many activities.
Fun is the name of the game on Dubai’s safari outings, and a regular convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles make the relatively short journey along the Abu
Dhabi Highway to take visitors dune driving, sand skiing and camel riding.
Dune driving is hair-raising, but ultimately safe. Your heart leaps in your throat as you skid and slide over dunes in a roller coaster ride that leaves youbreathless but eager for more. Sand skiing is for speed freaks unafraid of heights – perfect for reckless teenagers. Camel riding is more my style.
Riding across the desert atop one of these wonderfully docile creatures who have been caravanning tribes across the sands for centuries is something I will
never forget. Most adventure tours end with a traditional gathering, and although it is “touristy”, the generous servings of Arabian food, belly dancing shows and the entertainment are far from cheesy and leave everyone with a great sense of participation and enjoyment, ready for the moonlit drive back to the city along
the dark desert highway.
Natural delights and manmade wonders:
From adventures in the desert to indoor skiing and fabulous shopping, Dubai has something for everyone in the family.
Sailing away The gorgeous blue waters of the Arabian Gulf provide a playground for all ages.For our teenagers, water parks and beach games were passed over in preference for “real” action above the waves. Parasailing and wakeboarding activities are organized through the Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, whose enthusiastic team of expert staff make sure visitors have the best experience possible. For those less keen on the high-speed chase factor, the Bristol Charter
Company in Dubai Marina arranges tranquil outings on the ocean at sunset in traditional dhows with a candle-lit dinner that brings peace and happiness at the end of an exciting day. For keen sailors, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina offers the ultimate sailing challenge with “The America’s Cup Experience”. For groups of 12 and requiring no sailing experience,the day on the water comes with safety training and a champagne celebration.
Brilliant birdlife
A tour of Bastakiya, the old city of Dubai is a must. The fairytale alleys and exquisite architecture conjure up images of Aladdin. Follow this by a visit to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, the Dubai Creek area. Nature trails wind through lush mangroves and lagoons leading to bird hides with telescopes and binoculars. Sit awhile and watch the birdlife of the creek and mangroves.
The Greater Flamingos are a spectacular sight when they take flight. We also spotted Broad Billed Sandpiper and the Black Winged Stilt, who wade
through the water in a constant search for insects and crustaceans that they pick from the sand or the water with their long pointed beaks.
The Al Qasr Resort beside the breathtaking Burj Al Arab Hotel comes alive in the moonlight as gondoliers ferry passengers between souks, undercover bazaars to waterside eateries. One of our favourites was the Magnolia Restaurant, which serves an international menu of vegetarian and raw foods that were fresh and delicious. The art of shopping. When you go on holiday with teenage girls, shopping is high on the menu. Severen and Bella were in raptures over The Mall of the Emirates and its huge
array of top-end boutiques and department stores.
Severen says: “We went to Givenchy just to try things on ... and they let us! We also went to Prada and the sales people were really lovely to us. They had a sale on and there were some great new Prada bags. We also found some wonderful sales on shoes at Jill Sander, Mui Mui and Marc Jacobs at a third of
their normal cost.”
Apart from window shopping at the high-end designer shops the girls found clothes within their budget on the ground floor at Zara and in the smaller
shops on the mall’s ground floor. For us, Dubai was the perfect destination – exciting and exotic with great shopping. In Dubai nothing gets in the way of a great time. It’s easy to travel in taxis and hotel shuttles and you won’t waste a moment of your precious holiday time in traffic jams, queues or getting lost ... of course unless you wish too!